Saturday News, September 21

Bodies Identified From Thursday Accident

(Sioux City) -- Sioux City Police have identified those two men that were killed in an auto accident on Thursday. The two deceased victims from that collision were Mark Sevier Jr. and Caleb Springer both were from Sioux City.

School Board Director Resigns Before Taking Office

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - Sioux City school board member Shaun Broyhill, who was elected Sept. 10, has resigned his seat before attending a single meeting. Broyhill says that he's stepping down because he has to serve 120 days in jail for violating probation on a 2004 misdemeanor theft charge. The newspaper says the 33-year-old Broyhill has an outstanding arrest warrant in Cedar County for failing to appear in court on the charge. Broyhill, who was to be sworn in Monday, says he's stepping down "since I will be an ineffective leader on the board until this issue is resolved." The board could appoint someone to fill the empty seat until the next regular election in September 2015. It could also seek a special election to fill the seat. ---

FEMA Says No Aid To Utility Co-ops After April Storm

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa public utility officials say they're surprised by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's rejection of disaster aid, and Iowa's congressional delegation wants a review of the decision. FEMA denied a request for $20 million to repair electric systems in northwest Iowa that were damaged by an April storm. The Osceola, Lyon Rural and Iowa Lakes electric cooperative and Sanborn municipal utility sought aid after lines and poles were damaged by storms. Utility officials say FEMA denied the aid because the cooperatives didn't meeting power line testing rules. They called them new requirement. FEMA spokesman Michael Cappannari says the agency hasn't changed its rules, but the utilities can appeal the decision. Iowa's congressional delegation has asked FEMA for a meeting to review the denial. ---

DNR Investigates Fish Kill

WESTSIDE, Iowa (AP) - Officials are investigating a reported fish kill in a creek in western Iowa. The state Department of Natural Resources says dead chubs and minnows and a few larger fish were found in the East Boyer River near Westside for a mile downstream. The report was received Thursday. Officials say water samples showed only a slight elevation in ammonia, nitrate and dissolved oxygen. Live fish and aquatic wildlife also were seen in the sampling areas. DNR continues to investigate the fish kill, which officials say could be due to several factors.

Two Businesses Receive State Funding For Moving

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Two Iowa companies have been given state money to relocate corporate headquarters to other Iowa communities. In both cases the Iowa Economic Development Authority board approved loans that will not be required to be repaid if the companies complete the projects as promised. Jacobson Companies, a Des Moines company that provides warehouses and transportation services received approval for a $250,000 forgivable loan from the state to move its corporate offices to Clive. The city will provide $60,000. The board also has approved funding for Rembrandt Enterprises to move its corporate headquarters and research and development operations from Okoboji to Spirit Lake. The egg processor plans to renovate a former bank building. It gets a forgivable loan of $105,000, a no-interest five-year loan of $105,000, and $210,000 in tax credits.

Grassley Says He Will Run Again

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley says he'll seek a seventh term in 2016. Speaking Friday during a taping of the public television program "Iowa Press," Grassley said in response to a question that he's planning to seek re-election. After the taping, Grassley told The Des Moines Register (http://dmreg.co/16ldIgL ) he decided a couple months ago to run for re-election after longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin opted to retire. Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, says if both senators retired, Iowa would be hurt by a lack of seniority. Grassley was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980. He'd previously served three terms in the U.S. House. He was first elected to the Iowa Legislature in 1958. Grassley celebrated his 80th birthday Tuesday. ---